The Protectorate facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
1653–1659
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: PAX QUAERITUR BELLO ("Peace is obtained through war")
Territory of Commonwealth in 1659
Status	Republic
Capital	London
Common languages	English (official) Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic
Religion	Puritanism
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic under a military dictatorship
Lord Protector
• 1653–1658	Oliver Cromwell
• 1658–1659	Richard Cromwell
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Other House (1658–59)
• Lower house	House of Commons (1654–55/1656–58/1659)
History
• Instrument of Government	16 December 1653
• Humble Petition and Advice	25 May 1657
• R. Cromwell's resignation	25 May 1659
Currency	Pound sterling
Preceded by Succeeded by Commonwealth of England Kingdom of Scotland Commonwealth of England
Today part of	Ireland United Kingdom

The Protectorate was the period during the Commonwealth (or, to monarchists, the Interregnum) during which England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the English overseas possessions were governed by a Lord Protector as a republic. The Protectorate began in 1653, when the dissolution of the Rump Parliament and then Barebone's Parliament allowed Oliver Cromwell to be appointed Lord Protector of the Commonwealth under the terms of the Instrument of Government. In 1659, the Protectorate Parliament was dissolved by the Committee of Safety as Richard Cromwell, who had succeeded his father as Lord Protector, was unable to keep control of the Parliament and the Army. That marked the end of the Protectorate and the start of a second period of rule by the Rump Parliament as the legislature and the Council of State as the executive.

Images for kids

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  Oliver Cromwell

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  Richard Cromwell

See also

In Spanish: El Protectorado para niños